Diseases

Causes

This type of infection easily catches children (age 1 to 10 years) and young adults whose immunity is weakened due to some or the other reason.

Molluscum Contagiosum can influence any region on the body yet it is typically seen on the face, arms and legs and is caused by DNA poxvirus called the Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV).

Molluscum is most commonly seen in children. The virus survives in a warm, humid place that is the reason people living in tropical countries like India are more susceptible to get it.. People havinf atopic dermatitis/eczema are at higher risk of getting molluscum contagiosum.

A person having weak immunity due to systemic illness like AIDS or treatment for cancer are more prone to get serious infection of molluscum contagiosum.

How does the virus spread:

It spreads by touching something infected with the virus like a infected towel or infected clothing or toys.

Wrestlers and gymnasts get it from touching infected mats.

Having a direct skin-to-skin contact as during sexual intercoarse can lead to transmission of infection.

Once infected with the virus, a person can spread the virus to other parts the body.

Scratching or picking at bumps on the skin and then touching skin that does not have bumps can spread the virus and cause new bumps.